MELBOURNE

Late last week, Cloudy Bay celebrated their 30th anniversary in style with the launch of a new 2015 vintage Sauvignon Blanc at The Botanical in South Yarra. It was a glorious day with brilliant blue skies and warm sunshine, perfect for mingling and enjoying one of New Zealand’s finest drops. We were invited for this very special First of the Season Lunch, which saw an emphasis placed upon the fruit characters of this incredibly cherished varietal.

They say that cheese and wine go hand in hand; well, there’s nothing more luxurious than the affair of cheese and wine matching. If you’re keen to build your knowledge and experience of both cheese and wine, then you may be interested to know that Syracuse Restaurant and Wine Bar will be hosting Milk the Cow Fromagerie on Tuesday November 10th. This extraordinary event featuring two of Melbourne’s most loved venues looks set to be a match made in heaven.

It’s time to gear up, Melbourne foodies. The diverse suburb of Oakleigh has joined the gourmet burger race! Recently opened Mick Adams Burger Bar has been putting a quality spin on the nostalgic favourite, so the next time that you’re southeast of the CBD, be sure to pop in to check it out.

There’s no better place to spend a pleasantly warm Sunday afternoon than St Kilda’s iconic Fitzroy Street, with its tall palm trees lining the pavement and refreshing breeze whispering in from the sea. Despite it being the end of the weekend, this Sunday just gone saw party-goers flocking to the trendy area in style for none other than Night Tripping – a fabulous extravaganza of Melbourne’s best Asian street-food, drinks and tunes.

More typically, when the phrase “fun for the whole family” is established, the “fun” hereafter mentioned normally equates to something entirely too toddler friendly. Here, you would not expect to see Mothers and Fathers, Grandparents and Grandchildren, couples and singles alike, all equally excited in anticipation.

Have you ever felt the fun immediately get sucked out of something? Maybe you’ve had a flashback to something awkward or doofy you did one time far after the fact, or maybe you’ve felt a sudden unwelcome ache of the body or the heart. It’s not a feeling anyone seeks out but it’s one that comes with the territory of life. But generally, unless you’re being a creeper and following your ex’s band around, this feeling stays away from the band room. Unfortunately, Saturday at the Northcote Social Club didn’t get this memo.

It’s no secret that Melbourne has seen an explosion in its thirst for craft beer over recent years; and if you love your footy, then there’s no doubt that you’ll also love your beer. But what if you could have a beer and contribute to bettering the state of the world at the same time? If the thought of knocking back a cold one while doing good and having fun along the way excites you, then you’ll be happy to know that AFL legend David Neitz has partnered with Federation Square’s iconic venue, Beer DeLuxe, to introduce Brewmanity – a refreshing, independent and handcrafted pale ale developed to raise funds for some very notable causes.

If you thought that the prominent Hardware Lane precinct was beginning to become a little bit stale, then you’re in for a pleasant surprise. The iconic A25 brand is expanding and will be extending its unique Italian fare to the heart of Melbourne’s CBD just in time for summer.

The Curtin looks as if it is a set piece from a movie focusing on the rise of Nick Cave and the Melbourne goth scene. The stage is framed by gold streamers, messy banners twisted up against each other. It makes the wall clock hidden in the corner seem even more out of place, as if a teeny tiny bit of my high school worked its way into the bandroom.

Filmmaking icon and independent cinema's favourite son Kevin Smith has had quite the career. He designed an entire universe based on his off the wall imagination; wrote, directed and starred in one of the most beloved independent films of all time and is worshipped by geeks the world over.

“Ballet is transformative. The moment our dancers step on stage, they become fearless and fantastic storytellers, where bodies move with witless grace and the wildest tales seem real. Audiences are taken to new worlds of sweeping movement, blossoming colour and spine tingling scores. Ballet creates a special place where time stands still and possibilities flourish.” - David McAllister

Stars from the Music and Comedy Industry came together for the 8th Heart of St. Kilda Concert to raise both Funds and awareness of the great work that is being done by the people at the Sacred Heart Mission. Carl Dziunka was there to capture the show.

For all you street food lovers out there, it’s time to get excited. Collingwood has received a new fun and cheeky venue that is sure to have your mouth watering in no time. Recently opened on Johnston Street, Son In Law is serving traditional Thai dishes with a creative twist, playing on the notoriously delicate relationship between in-laws that is well known throughout Thai culture. This is a place where guests are invited to make themselves at home and get fed just like family, while mother makes the rules and the son-in-law tiptoes around, finding ways to not disturb the balance.

St Jerome’s - The Hotel has caused quite the hype in Melbourne recently, and when they mentioned that they were partnering with the ‘Art Series Hotel Group’ to create an ‘art inspired fresh air affair’, I was sincerely intrigued. For those of you not ‘in the know’, the top of Melbourne central has been decked out with twenty marvellously embellished tents, perfect for those that just love ‘glamping’.

After the successful launch in Monash University, ‘So You Think You Can K-pop?’ is back offering K-pop fans and students with glimmering and flashing lights of Korean pop music and dance performances. Expect heaps of freebies of the latest K-pop CDs, fun chats with fellow fans over Korean refreshments, and special guest performance from Neighbours’ star Hany Lee this Tuesday, 22nd of September 7 PM at the University of Melbourne.